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Santa Rosa approves 600‑sq-ft hillside deck at Blackhawk Circle with landscaping condition for privacy
Summary
The City of Santa Rosa approved a hillside development permit for a 600‑square‑foot detached wood deck at 3591 Blackhawk Circle, conditioned on a landscape plan and at least one large tree to reduce visual prominence.
The City of Santa Rosa zoning administrator approved a hillside development permit to construct a 600‑square‑foot wood deck at the rear of a single‑family home at 3591 Blackhawk Circle, conditioned on a landscape plan showing trees or other screening to reduce visual prominence.
Krishna Viswa, the project planner, said the deck would be detached from the home and is proposed for an existing residential hillside lot zoned for low‑density housing. The planner reported one neighbor comment expressing concern about privacy and suggested stepping the deck down the slope to reduce overlooking. Staff recommended vegetative screening as a condition and said the site is categorically exempt from CEQA.
Tom Zellay, the applicant, told the administrator the owner had already planted crepe myrtles independent of the deck and said the deck’s existing vertical height responds to the lot’s slope. Neighbor Phil Wright, who identified himself as the adjacent property owner, asked whether the deck location would provide direct views into his backyard and recommended stepping the deck down the slope. Wright said he had not received notice earlier and requested clearer graphics showing relative locations.
In response, Zellay said the deck’s chosen configuration is intended to provide barrier‑free access for a family member with significant mobility and balance issues; moving the deck lower would require stairs or ramps that would make access difficult. To address privacy concerns, Zellay committed to planting at least one larger tree between the properties and to provide additional landscaping. The zoning administrator amended the recommended condition to require submission of a landscape plan with the building‑permit application showing proposed trees and plantings; staff and the applicant discussed using species that can attain significant height (the planner noted a city heritage‑tree species list as guidance).
With that modification, the zoning administrator approved the minor hillside development permit. The decision is final unless appealed to the City Clerk’s office within 10 calendar days (April 14, 2025).
